Judge Kevin Murphy sentenced 26-year-old Guzman to 21 years in state prison after listening to emotional pleas for a harsher sentence from Holland’s family. Guzman will be eligible for release after serving a minimum of 17 years.

Holland, a Hayward resident who worked for a moving company, was found shot to death Dec. 8, 2005, in a second-floor hallway of the Phoenix Lodge, 2286 Industrial Parkway. He was 33.

Holland was reportedly shot while walking toward Guzman during a party where drugs were present.

Guzman was the primary suspect in the slaying and was arrested in a stolen car in Oregon in June 2006 after a multijurisdictional high-speed chase.

“There was bad blood between them because of drugs,” defense attorney JoAnn Kingston said. “My client admitted culpability from the beginning. It was never a whodunit. But there is no question in my mind that it was not premeditated.”

A plea deal was struck between the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office and Kingston that resulted in the voluntary manslaughter charge.

Deputy District Attorney Jill Nerone said the deal was agreed to because of “significant self-defense issues” in the case.

Members of Holland’s family, who have attended each of Guzman’s previous hearings, strongly objected to the deal.

Prior to Wednesday’s sentencing, a noisy altercation broke out in the courtroom hallway between members of both families. Apparently, members of the Holland family were upset to see members of the Guzman family smiling and laughing before the sentencing, and a verbal confrontation ensued that resulted in one member of the Holland family being ejected from the courthouse.

Guzman stood with his head down in the courtroom, across from Holland’s mother, Linda Sanchez, who asked Murphy to give Guzman 25 years to life. She said Guzman never showed remorse, called him a coward for accepting the plea deal and added that she believed he would commit crimes again once released.

Holland’s father, sister, brother-in-law and nephew described Holland as a good man and father, and asked the judge for a stiffer sentence. Many members of the family wore T-shirts bearing a picture of a smiling Holland.

His wife, Michele Holland, stood before the judge with their 17-year-old son and 21-year-old daughter and broke into tears.

“Does he get a chance to return in 21 years?” she said of her husband. “Where is our justice?”

The judge said that although the family was in pain, the case had already worked its way through the legal system and that the plea deal would stand.

In addition to the 21-year sentence, Guzman is required to pay a $10,000 fine and restitution of $9,339.76.

Following the sentencing, Kingston said, “This is the tragedy of drugs. ‘Senseless’ is the correct word to describe it.”

“No one deserves to die the way he died,” Michele Holland said. “I feel that not only did the defendant show no compassion, the system showed us no compassion as well. I don’t feel like our family received justice.”